Today we’d like to introduce you to Aubree Young.
Aubree, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The story of how I got to where I am today is long! Although doing hair always came really naturally for me and I started exploring my natural talent and creativity at a young age, I did not start my career young. As a kid and young teen, I was always a tom-boy/athlete but for some reason had a lot of fun doing different, creative things to my hair. When I was in middle school, we started having school dances, which gave me the opportunities to style all of my friend’s hair, which I did for every dance through high school as well. When I was about 14 years old, I loved to go with my older sister to her hair appointments. Since I am a visual learner who can pretty much watch something and feel comfortable to at least try it out, I decided to give myself highlights at home! I then became the “hairstylist” to a few of my friends, doing their highlights and hair cuts as well. Although I thought that I wanted to be a professional hair and makeup artist as a teenager, my parents valued higher education and so I went to Washington State University and earned a Kinesiology degree as an Athletic Training Student. I couldn’t see myself in this field of work and went into Property Management because I had some previous experience during high school and college. But I was never really happy. Until I moved to San Diego and everything fell into place. Not knowing many people here, I found a roommate close to my age with similar interests. I feel like I owe my career and happiness of doing what I love to her.
At the time, she was working for her parent’s business, a Beauty School. Hearing her talk about the school and the students as we would share about our day always made me feel like I had missed out on what I wanted to do. After a while, she encouraged me to take the leap and quit the career I hated and begin school for my passion. After graduating from beauty school and receiving my license, I started at a salon with a very structured assisting program that provided a lot of education. I appreciate and credit the skills I learned there more than I can really express, but after a year and a half, I saw my career going in a different direction. I wanted to be independent and have all of the freedom and flexibility that provides. My best friend from beauty school saw that I was getting to a point where I was ready for a big change and asked me to come share her station at her salon and help her out with some of her clients while she was on maternity leave.
Knowing I would at least start off with some of her clients to keep me busy, I felt like it was the perfect time to make the move. I was still so unsure of what it would take to build a clientele that I wanted something on the side to make some extra money but I wanted to be “all in” in the hair world. I started working with a bridal hair and makeup team and felt right at home since I had been styling friends for dances since middle school and had done hair for a lot of friends who had been married. When the owner of that business moved away about a year later, I had to start my own bridal team, Beauty by Aubree & Co! We offer hair and makeup on location for weddings or special events in and around San Diego. I am asked on the regular if I prefer working in the salon, or styling hair and doing makeup for weddings and my answer is always that I love that I don’t have to choose! My passion for hair started with both coloring and styling at such a young age that I couldn’t imagine limiting myself to just one or the other.
Has it been a smooth road?
Life will always present obstacles and challenges but I think that the road to where I am today has been fairly smooth. My advice for anybody starting their journey as a hair and makeup artist is to put in the time as a student and assistant. Working under somebody doesn’t just teach technical skills, but also provides an invaluable mentorship that, in my opinion, is worth much more than whatever income you will make your first year if you were to go independent right away.
We’d love to hear more about Beauty by Aubree & Co.
I specialize in wedding hair and makeup and custom color/blonding. I am continually educating myself and my wedding team so that we can always be proud of our work and the service we provide to our clients. I think it is ultimately my work ethic that sets me apart from others.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Podcasts currently listening to: Thriving Stylist, The Skinny Confidential Him & Her, Your Day Off, UNF*CK Your Brain, Garyvee Audio Experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.itsprettyaubrious.com
- Phone: 360-635-1326
- Email: aubree@itsprettyaubrious.com
- Instagram: @beautybyaubreebrooke @beautybyaubreeandco
Image Credit:
eye for love photography, Tarah Sweeney
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